Cable aviary structure and method of erecting the same

ABSTRACT

A large aviary structure in which the natural habitat of the birds housed therein can be realistically simulated, with the confining walls and roof of the structure being so unobtrusive and so well camouflaged as to produce in the visitor to the aviary the illusion that the birds are not artificially confined at all but are free to fly wherever they desire. The side walls and roof of the structure are formed of a light weight, open mesh material that is preferably gray-green in color and adapted to have vines grow upon the mesh. The roof and side walls are supported by a relatively small diameter roof-defining cable, which is surrounded by a roof-supporting framework of catenary cables of relatively larger diameter, which framework surrounds and is spaced above and outside the roof-defining cable. Various combinations of catenary cables that form roofsupporting frameworks are disclosed. Typically, the roof-supporting catenary cable framework is in turn supported by more or less vertical support poles. The distance separating the roof-defining cable from the catenary cable framework and the support poles renders the cable framework and poles virtually unnoticeable to one standing inside the aviary structure. The side walls are preferably inclined outwardly from the bottom to top of the aviary structure. A method of erecting the cable aviary structure is also disclosed.

United States Patent 1191 Fowler 1111 3,744,455 1451 July 10,1973

[ CABLE AVIARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTING THE SAME [76] Inventor:James M. Fowler, 1837 N. Hudson St., Chicago, Ill. 60614 221 Filed: Nov.1, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 194,290

s21 Us. (:1. 119/17 [51] Int. Cl A0lk 31/06 [58] Field of Search119/17,- 15; 135/14 V, 5 R; 43/20, 21, 31

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,856,658 5 1932Rummlerfin 135/14 v 1,900,274. 3/1933 Brockie 135/5 R Primgry Exqminer llugh R. Chamblee AttorneyMax Dressler, James W; Clement et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A large aviary structure in which the natural habitat ofthe birds housed therein can be realistically simulated, with theconfining walls and roof of the structure being so unobtrusive and sowell camouflaged as to produce in the visitor to the aviary the illusionthat the birds are not artificially confined at all but are free to flywherever they desire.

The side walls and roof of the'structure are formed of a light weight,open mesh material that is preferably gray-green in color and adapted tohave vines grow upon the mesh. The roof and side walls are supported bya relatively small diameter roof-defining cable,

which is surrounded by a roof-supporting framework of catenary cables ofrelatively larger diameter, which framework surrounds and is spacedabove and outside the roof-defining cable. Various combinations ofcaten'ary cables that form roof-supporting frameworks are disclosed.

Typically, the roof-supporting catenary cable framework is in turnsupported by more or less vertical support poles. The distanceseparating the roof-defining cable from the catenary cable framework andthe support poles renders the cable framework and poles virtuallyunnoticeable to one standing inside the aviary structure.

The side walls are preferably inclined outwardly from the bottom to topof the aviary structure.

A method of erecting the cable aviary structure is also disclosed.

32 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures 1 Pmmnww 3,744,455

SHEET 2 BF 3 7 FIG. 1 H FIG. 8

PATENTED 3.744.455

SHiET 3 0F 3 CABLE AVIARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTING THE SAMEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been recognized that by far themost desirable type of building or other structure for use in a publiczoo is one that simulates as closely as possible the natural habitat ofthe animals or birds housed in the zoo. In the case of birds, thisobjective has'been especially difficult to achieve because of thenecessity of confining the flight of the birds so that they will not befree to fly away. Specifically, it has been difficult to provideconfining walls and a roof that will somehow blend into the surroundingsand not detract from an illusion of open space.

DISADVANTAGES OF THE PRIOR ART One way to help produce the illusion thatthere are no confining walls or roof ina zoo aviary is to make theaviary as large as possible, so that the confining barriers to the birdsflight will not be so noticeable. However, the larger the structure is,the stronger and therefore in prior art aviaries, the more noticeablethe sup-.

porting framework must be. In addition, the larger the structure, thegreater the cost of erecting the aviary. These disadvantages ofknowntypes of structure for zoo aviaries are avoided by the presentinvention.

Other disadvantages of known aviaries are also avoided by the aviarystructure of this invention. Birds instinctively alight upon perchesthat are offered by noticeable horizontal members, such as cross bracesin a rigid supporting framework, with the result that a number of birdsmay congregate on such a horizontal member in a manner that will tend toemphasize rather than diminish for the observer the feeling ofartificial confinement of the birds within the aviary. Since the aviaryof the present invention includes no such horizontal members, the birdsin this aviary will tend to alight upon the trees and bushes within theaviary space, or to alight more or less at random up and down the openmesh material of which the side walls of the structure are formed.

Another disadvantage of employing horizontal structural members that isavoided by the present invention is that when a confining wire screen isattached to such a structural member, the bird that is attracted toalight upon the horizontal member cannot do so without damaging itselfagainst the wire screen.

wardly from the bottom to the top of the walls, as in the Most aviariesnow known have vertical side walls, 7

a which causes two types of damage to the birds in the aviary when theyalight upon such a wall formed of mesh material, or fly into the wall.The first type of preferred form of this invention. Apparently theexplanation for this is that the bird is better able to maintain itsbalance on such an inclined wall, and thus is less likely to tip overand have its tail feathers strike the meshed wall and thereby sufferdamage.

The second type of damage produced by the vertical walls of knownaviaries results from collisions of the confined birds with the sidewalls. Such collisions may occur if a bird panics because of the suddenflight of another bird, the presence of the birds keeper, or some otheroutside cause. Collisions may also occur because a bird instinctivelyflies against any wind it may feel blowing through the aviary, orbecause the bird may simply not yet be used to being confined.Collisions with the side walls may cause damage to the birds cere (thefleshy member at the base of the bill), or in extreme cases may evencause the birds neck to be broken. It has been found that birds are morelikely to swoop down and alight safely upon a side wall that isoutwardly inclined from bottom to top in accordance with the preferredteaching of this invention, and are thus less likely to suffer in thisaviary the damaging collisions that often occur with the vertical sidewalls of prior art aviary structures.

The use of side walls inclined outwardly from the bottom to the top ofthe aviary structurein the preferred embodiment of this invention hasthe added advantage that the upward flight of the birds is encouraged,since birds tend by instinct to fly in ever wider upward spirals. Thus,the wasted space at the top of prior art aviaries in which the sidewalls are inclined inwardly from bottom to top is avoided by the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE AVIARY STRUCTURE OF THIS INVENTION The cable aviarystructure of this invention includes at least three support memberswhich are typically more or less vertical support poles elevated abovethe ground. Each support member has at least one catenary cableassociated with it. The catenary cable has one end secured to theelevated support member, and its other, or remote, end secured to thenext adjacent arrangement of an elevated support member with a catenarycable secured thereto. The remote end of the first mentioned cable maybe secured either directly to the next adjacent elevated support member,or to another catenary cable that is in turn secured to that supportmember.

ln the resulting framework of catenary cables, all the cables areinclined inwardly and downwardly into the space bonded by the elevatedsupport members and the surface of the ground directly beneath 'thoseelevated members, thus providing a roof-supporting framework within thatspace.

In this specification and in the claims, the term catenary is employedto refer not only to the curved shape assumed by a freely hanging cableof uniform density and cross section, as in the traditional usage of theterm, but also to cables that assume a roughly similar shape under theinfluence both of their own weight and of the weight of other supportcables, adjustment cables, and similar members that go to make up thecable aviary structure.

Within the space bonded by the catenary cable framework just described,and by the surface of the ground directly beneath that framework, issupported a cable defining the perimeter of the roof of the aviarystructure. Spaced portions of this roof-defining cable are secured toand supported by the catenary cable framework.

A roof formed of open mesh material is in turn supported upon theroof-defining cable. Side walls which are likewise formed of open meshmaterial extend downward to the ground from the roof. For the reasonsindicated above, the side walls of the structure are preferably inclinedoutwardly from the bottom to the top of the aviary.

In a preferred form of this structure, a plurality of adjustment cablesis used to secure the roof-defining cable to the cables of theroof-supporting framework, and to help maintain each segment of theroof-defining cable as nearly straight as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE METHOD OF THIS INVENTION In the method of this invention,after 'a roofsupporting framework of catenary cables is suspended fromelevated support members, a closed loop of cable having a perimeterequal to the perimeter of the roof to be erected is raised to anelevated position below the cable framework and within the space boundedby the surface of the ground and the framework. (In some embodiments ofthis invention, a bluff or cliff is substituted for one segment of theroof-defining cable.) Spaced portions of the roof-defining cable arethen secured to the roof-supporting framework to arrange theroof-defining cable preferably in the general shape of a polygon.

Successive panels of mesh material are then pulled over theroof-defining cable on one side of the generally polygonal area outlinedby the latter cable, and across to the opposite side of that area. Thisdefines a portion of the walls and roof of the aviary structure beingerected. Each successive panel is then pulled over and draped down belowthe roof-defining cable on the opposite side to form another portion ofthe side wall of the aviary structure.

Finally, the edge portions of the panels of mesh material are secured toeach other, and to the ground, to form an enclosed aviary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofone embodiment of the cable aviary structure 'of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the upper right-hand portion of theembodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the cable aviarystructure of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the aviary structureof this invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the lower right-hand portion of theembodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the structure of thisinvention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the lower right-hand portion of theembodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary views of the upper right-hand portion ofthe embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are top plan views of other embodiments of the structureof this invention.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views of other embodiments of the aviarystructure of this invention, in both of which a bluff or cliff isemployed as one side wall of the structure.

FIG. l6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the aviary structureof this invention in which a bluff is utilized as one side wall of thestructure.

CATENARY CABLES FROM POLE TO POLE FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrateembodiments of the aviary structure of this invention in which catenarycables extend between adjacent support poles, with the ends of eachcable secured directly to the poles.

In FIG. 1, cable aviary structure 20 is erected upon ground 22 so as toenclose existing trees 24 and 26, and to span existing stream 28. Thestructure is basically supported by four elevated support members in theform of support poles such as poles 30 and 31, each of which is bracedby transverse members 32 and bracing wires 34. External guy wires 36 aresecured to the ground at 38 to help hold support poles 30 and 31 inplace against the inward and downward force exerted by the weight of therest of the aviary structure. The upper portions of support poles 30 arepreferably slanted outward, at least in their upper portions, in orderto put the poles under as much compression as possible. In theembodiment shown, the poles are tilted outward along their entirelengths.

Catenary cable 40, having a relatively large diameter, extends from theupper portion of support pole 30 on the left-hand side of FIG. I tosupport pole 31 on the right-hand side of FIG. 1, and is secured at itsrespective ends to said two support poles. Similar catenary cable 42extends from support pole 30, to which it is secured, into the plane ofthe paper in FIG. 1, with its other end secured to support pole 44 (bestseen in FIG. 2). As is also seen from FIG. 2, catenary cable 46 extendsfrom support pole 44 in the upper left-hand portion of this figure tosupport pole 48 in the upper righthand portion, with its ends secured tothose respective poles. Similarly, catenary cable 50 extends betweensupport poles 48 and 31, with its ends secured to those respectivepoles.

Catenary cables 40, 42, 46 and 50 are all inclined inwardly anddownwardly into the space bounded by support poles 30, 44, 48 and 31 andthe surface of ground 22 lying directly beneath the area defined by thetop portions of those support poles. The catenary cables form a closedroof-supporting framework disposed within that space.

Cable 52, which is of a smaller diameter than catenary cables 40, 42, 46and 50, defines the perimeter of roof 54. Cable 52 is located within thespace bounded by the catenary cable framework already described and thesurface of the ground lying directly beneath that framework.

Within the practical limits imposed by the available ground area, aswell as by the strength, weight and cost of the construction materialsemployed, support poles 30, 44, 48 and 31 and the catenary cableframework suspended therefrom should be located as far as possibleoutside the space that is enclosed within the aviary. The farther thesestructural elements are outside the mesh walls and mesh roof of theaviary structure, the less noticeable they will be from the interior ofthe aviary.

Roof 54 is supported upon roof-defining cable 52. The roof is formed oflight weight, open mesh material. The material may suitably befabricated of plastic coated wire, or of nylon,of about one-sixteenthinch diameter. For best results it should be gray-green in color,although green, brown or tan colors may also be used satisfactorily. Toproduce the greatest illusion of the absence of confining walls or roof,creeping vines may be trained to grow upward along the walls and acrossthe roof of the aviary structure.

One advantage of the aviary structure of this invention is that it maybe erected without disturbing the natural foliage already present at thelocation where the aviary structure is to be constructed. Thus thevisitor to the aviary may enter at one of swinging doors 56, then walkthrough the area enclosed by the aviary structure, across foot bridge58, and out the other swinging door 56, all the while receiving as hismain impression the appearance of birds flying around unconfined and intheir natural habitat, as, for example, from tree 24 to tree 26.

The size of the openings in the mesh material of which the roof and sidewalls are formed will depend, of course, upon the size of the birdshoused in the aviary. The mesh size may be as small as one-half inch oreven less for some birds, and as large as perhaps three inches acrossfor very large birds.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, roof-defining cable 52 is supportedin its elevated position in part by support cables 60 extending fromeach corner of the generally polygonal structure formed by theroofdefining cable. Each support cable is secured to the corner of roof54 at one end, and to its respective support pole 30, 44, 48 or 31 atthe other end. Support cables 60 are of a relatively large diameter, andmay have a diameter comparable to the diameter of catenary cables 40,42, 46 and 50.

Roof-defining cable 52 and roof 54 are also supported by a plurality ofadjustment cables 62 which extend from each side of the generallypolygonal structure formed by roof-defining cable 52 to one of thecatenary cables of the roof-supporting framework. Adjustment cables 62are of relatively small diameter, and may have a diameter comparable tothat of roofdefining cable 52 or smaller. The length of each adjustmentcable- 62 is preferably selected to maintain each side of the generallypolygonal shape of roof 54 as nearly a straight line as possible. Ifadjustment cables 62 are sufficient in number and location, supportcables 60 may be omitted, and roof-defining cable 52 is then suspendedfrom the support poles of the aviary structure only through the catenarycable framework already described.

The importance of keeping the lines defining the various sides of thegenerally polygonally shaped roof of the aviary structure of thisinvention as nearly straight as possible is twofold. First, with eachsegment of roofdefinining cable 52 kept as nearly straight as possible,it is much easier to install in place the panels of open mesh materialof which roof 54 and sidewalls 64 are typically formed. Mesh or netmaterials do not adapt easily to crooked or curved cable segments, andfor this reason the straighter the lines defining the perimeter of theroof, the more evenly the panels of mesh material can be installed.Second, because of the, more even, regular installation of the meshmaterial, there is a more efficient, and thus more economical, use ofthat material.

The sides of polygonal roof 54 are maintained in very nearly straightlines not only by use of adjustment cables 62, but also by the effect ofthe weight of roofdefining cable 52 and the mesh material that formsroof 54 and the side walls of the aviary structure. The weight referredto acts to produce a hinge effect about the top of each support pole, asfor example pole 48 in the upper right-hand corner of- FIG. 2 and inFIG. 3. As indicated in FIG. 3, one portion of the hinge is provided bysupport cable 60, with other portions being provided by catenary cables46 and 50 and their associated adjustment cables 62 which are attachednear corner portion 63 of roof 54. The result of the hinge effectreferred to is to cause each corner of roof 54 to be stretched outwardlyaway from the other three corners, with a noticeable straightening beingproduced in each segment of roof-defining cable 52.

Side walls 64, formed of a mesh material similar to that of which roof54 is constructed, are shown in FIG. 1 inclining outward from the bottomto the top of the aviary structure. In the embodiment illustrated, sidewalls 64 are inclined at an angle of approximately 60 to the surface ofground 22. It is preferred that the angle of inclination to the groundbe from about 50 to about and the best results are obtained when theangle is, as shown, approximately 60.

In addition to having the advantages already described above, theoutwardly inclined side walls of the aviary structure of this inventionhelp in two ways to handle the problem of maintenance of the aviary.With the prior art aviaries having vertical side walls, the droppingsfrom birds that have alighted upon the side walls tend to foul the meshmaterial of the walls, and

render very difficult the problem of keeping those walls sufficientlyclean for purposes both of sanitation and appearance. In priorart'aviary structures having side walls inclined inwardly from thebottom to the top of the walls, droppings from birds that have alightedmomentarily on those side walls fall within the enclosed space of theaviary, which increases the hazard to visitors and the disturbance tothe birds when the droppings are removed.

In contrast to this, with the inclined walls of the aviary structure ofthe present invention, the droppings fall outside the aviary in areasfrom which visitors can be barred, and the droppingsca'n be removed bymaintenance personnel much more conveniently and with less disturbanceto the birds, By the same token, unsightly fouling of the mesh materialof the side walls can be largely avoided.

FIG. 4 illustrates in plan view an embodiment of the aviary structure ofthis invention generally similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, butwith the shape of roof 66, as outlined by roofdefining cable 68, beingin the approximate configuration of an hourglass. This has the advantagethat as the visitor to the aviary proceeds along walkway 70, side walls72 diverge outwardly in the direction the viewer looks, and are thusless noticeable and distracting to him.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the catenary cable roof-supportingframework is provided by cables 74, 76, 78 and 80. The respective endsof these cables are secured to support poles 82, 84, 86 and 88. (Bracingand guy wires for the support poles are omitted for clarity from FIG. 4and succeeding figures of the drawing.) The corners 90 of roof 66 aresupported by support cables 92 secured thereto at one end and to theirrespective support poles at the other. Roof-defining cable 72 is alsosecured to the resulting catenary cable framework by adjustment cables93.

FIG. illustrates an embodiment of the aviary structure of this inventionin which each corner of roof 94 is supported by two catenary cables. Forexample, the corner of the roof in the lower right-hand portion of FIG.5 is supported by catenary cable 96 that extends between support pole 98immediately adjacent that corner and support pole 100 in the upperright-hand corner of the figure, with the ends of cable 96 secured tothe respective support poles. Intermediate portion 102 of cable 96 issecured to corner 103 of roof 94.

Second catenary cable 104 extends from corner 103 to support pole 106 inthe lower left-hand corner of FIG. 5. One end of cable 104 is secured tocorner 103 and the other end to pole 106. Suitable adjustment cables108, secured at one end to catenary cables 96 and 104, respectively, andat the other end to roof-defining cable 110, help to maintain the sidesof roof 94 as nearly straight as possible.

As seen from FIG. 6, the hinge effect at the lower right-hand corner ofFIG. 5 that helps to keep roofdefining cable 110 as nearly straight aspossible is provided by the two segments of catenary cable 96 and bycatenary cable 104.

CATENARY CABLES FROM A POLE TO ANOTHER CATENARY CABLE FIGS. 7 through 11illustrate embodiments of the aviary structure of this invention inwhich each catenary cable extends from a support pole to which it issecured at one end, to an intermediate portion of another catenary cableto which it is secured at the other end. The second catenary cable issimilarly connected at one end to a support pole, and at the other endto a third catenary cable, with this arrangement of a support pole andcatenary cables continued in the same way around the perimeter of thestructure.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, a catenary cable 1roof-supporting framework is provided by catenary cables 108, 110, 112and 114. Cable 108 extends from support pole 116, in the upperright-hand corner of'FIG. 7, generally toward support pole 118, which islocated in a clockwise angular direction from pole 116 in that figure.Second catenary cable 110 extends from pole 118 generally toward pole120, also located in a clockwise angular direction from pole 116.Catenary cables 108, 110, 112 and 114 all extend into the space boundedby the surface of the ground and the four support poles 116, 118, 120and 122.

The end of first catenary cable 108 that is remote from support pole 116is secured at intermediate portion 124 of second catenary cable 110 tothe next adjacent arrangement of a support pole and catenary cablesecured thereto. Corner 126 of roof-defining cable. 128 is secured tointermediate portion 130 of catenary cable 108.

The end of catenary cable 110 remote from support pole 118 is likewisesecured at intermediate portion 132 of catenary cable 112 to its nextadjacent arrangement of a support pole and catenary cable securedthereto. Corner 134 of roof-defining cable 128 is secured tointermediate portion 136 of cable 110.

Similar catenary cable arrangements are provided at each corner of thegenerally polygonal structure formed by roof-defining cable 128.

As is seen from FIG. 8, the hinge"-effect at corner 126 of roof-definingcable 128 is provided in this embodiment by cables 108 and 110, whichtend to swing downward from the top portions of support poles 116 and118, respectively. Adjustment cables 138 help to keep the sides of thetrapezoidal structure outlined by roof-defining cable 128 as nearlystraight as possible.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the embodiment of the aviary structureillustrated in FIG. 7, in which a second framework of catenary cablesextending in an opposite angular direction is employed to provide a morebalanced structure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, catenary cables 108, 110, 112 and 114 aresupplemented by catenary cables 140, 142, 144 and 146. In addition tofirst catenary cable 108 and second catenary cable 110 which extend in aclockwise angular direction from support pole ll6, the embodiment ofFIG. 9 includes third catenary cable 140 extending from support pole 116generally toward support pole 122 in a counterclockwise angulardirection, with one end of cable 140 secured to pole 116. Fourthcatenary cable 142 extends from support pole 122 generally toward pole120, likewise in a counterclockwise angular direction from pole 116. Theend of third catenary cable 140 remote from support pole 116 is securedat intermediate portion 148 of fourth catenary cable 142 to the nextadjacent arrangement of a support pole and catenary cable securedthereto.

Catenary cables 140, 142, 144 and 146 all extend into the space boundedby the surface of the ground and the respective support poles to whichone end of each cable is secured.

Corner 150 of the generally polygonal structure formed by roof-definingcable 128 is secured to intermediate portion 152 of third catenary cablel40,and to intermediate portion 148 of catenary cable 112. In

the same way, corner 134 of roof-defining cable 128 is secured not onlyto intermediate portion 136 of second catenary cable 110, as alreadydescribed above, but also to intermediate portion 154 of fourth catenarycable 142.

Similar catenary cable arrangements are provided at each corner of theaviary structure.

Support cables 156 are secured to their respective support poles at oneend, and at the other end to the nearest corner of the generallypolygonal structure formed by roof-defining cable 128.

As is seen from FIG. 10, the hinge effect at support pole 116 in theupper right-hand corner of the embodiment of FIG. 9 is provided by anarrangement of cables that includes 146, 140, 156, 108 and 114. Asimilar hinge arrangement, but with support cable 156 omitted, is shownin FIG. 11.

THREE ELEVATED SUPPORT MEMBERS FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate embodiments ofthe aviary structure of this invention in which only three elevatedsupport members are employed In FIG. 12, catenary cable 158 has one endsecured to elevated support member 160 and the other to elevated supportmember 162. Catenary cables 164 and 166, with their ends secured tosupport poles 162 and 168, respectively, complete the catenary cableclosed roofsupporting framework of this embodiment. The three catenarycables extend inwardly toward each other and downwardly toward thesurface of the ground.

Roof-defining cable 170 defines a triangular roof 172 of open meshmaterial. Spaced portions of roofdefining cable 170 are secured byadjustment cables 174 to the catenary cable framework. The adjustmentcables also help to maintain the sides of roof 172 as nearly straight aspossible.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, three elevated support members 176, 178and 180 are employed. First catenary cable 182 extends from elevatedsupport member 176 generally toward support member 180 in acounterclockwise angular direction, and into the space bounded by thethree elevated support members and the surface of the ground directlybeneath those support members. One end of cable 182 is secured tosupport member 176.

Second catenary cable 184 extends from elevated support member 180generally towards elevated support member 178, likewise in acouterclockwise angular direction and into the space bounded by thethree elevated support members and the surface of the ground directlybeneath those supportmembers. One end of cable 184 is secured'toelevated support member 180. The end of catenary cable 182 remote fromsupport member 176 is secured at intermediate portion 186 of secondcatenary cable 184 to the next adjacent arrangement of a support poleand catenary cable secured thereto.

Corner 188 of the triangular structure formed by roof-defining cable 190is secured to intermediate portion 192 of first catenary cable 182.Corner 194 of the triangular structure of cable 190 is secured tointermediate portion 196 of second catenary cable 184.

Similar arrangements of catenary cables are provided at each corner ofthe aviary structure.

Adjustment cables 198 help to maintain each side of the trangularstructure outlined by roof-defining cable 190 as nearly straight aspossible.

BLUFF USED AS SIDE OF STRUCTURE FIGS. 14 through 16 illustrateembodiments of the aviary structure of this invention in which a bluffor cliff is employed as one side of the structure. v

In FIG. 14, bluff 200 rises sharply above ground 202, with the aviarystructure 204 of this invention extending in front of the bluff so thatthe rising cliff can be utilized as the rear wall of the aviary.

Elevated support members 206 and 208 are secured to the top edge ofbluff 200. Catenary cable 210 is secured at its respective ends toelevated support members 206 and 208, with an intermediate portion ofthe cable secured to the top portion of support pole 214. The twosegments of catenary cable 210 between the elevated support members andsupport pole 214 incline inwardly toward each other and downwardlytoward the ground. These two segments of the catenary cable thus formwith bluff 200 a closed roof-supporting framework.

Roof-defining cable 216 is secured at each end to bluff 200, at points218 and 220 located between and below elevated support members 206 and208. Intermediate portion 222 of cable 216 is secured by support cable224 to the top portion of support pole 214. Cable 216 thus defines, withbluff 200, the perimeter of roof 226 of aviary structure 204.

Adjustment cables 227 are secured at-one end to catenary cable 210 andat the other end to spaced portions of roof-defining cable 216, to helpsupport the latter and maintain it as nearly straight as possible.

Roof 226 is formed of light weight, open mesh material. A side wallformed of similar material extends downward to the ground from each sideof roof 226 that is supported by a segment of cable 216 that connectselevated member218 or 220 with support cable The aviary structure iscompleted by securing to bluff 200 the edge portions 2300f walls 228 andedge portion 232 of roof 226. Entry door 234 provides access to theinterior of the aviary.

In FIG. 15, bluff 236 'rises above ground 238, with support poles 240and 242 rising from the ground at locations spaced from the bluff.Support members 244 and 246 are secured to bluff 236 at the top edge ofthe bluff. Catenary cable 248 extends from elevated support member 244to support pole 240, with the ends of the cable secured to respectivemembers 244 and 240. Catenary cable 250 extends in the same way fromelevated support member 246 to support pole 242. Catenary cable 252extends from support pole 240 to pole 242, with its two ends secured tothe respective support poles. All of said catenary cables 248, 250 and252 incline inwardly toward each other and downwardly toward the ground.Thus they form, with bluff 236, a closed roof-supporting framework.

The ends of cable 254 are secured to bluff 236 at points 256 and 258,respectively, located between and below elevated support members 244 and246. Cable 254 defines a portion of the perimeter of generallypolygonally shaped roof 260 formed of light weight, open mesh material.

Support cables 262 and 264 secure corners 266 and 268, respectively, ofthe generally polygonal structure formed by roof-defining cable 254, tosupport poles 240 and 242. Spaced portions of roof-defining cable 254aresecured by means of adjustment cables 270 to the catenary cableframework comprised of cables 248, 250 and 252.

Roof 260 is supported on its respective sides by roofdefining cable 254and bluff 236. A side wall 272 formed of light weight, open meshmaterial extends downward to the ground from roof 260 along each side ofthe roof that is supported by cable 254.

The aviary structure is completed by securing to bluff 236 the edgeportions of roof 260'and of the sidewalls which are adjacent the bluff.Entry is provided into the aviary through door 274.

FIG. 16 provides a plan view of another embodiment of the aviarystructure of this invention in which a bluff forms one side of thestructure.

Support poles 276 and 278 are located in front of and spaced from bluff280. Catenary cable 282 is secured at one end to the elevated supportmember 284 on bluff 280, and at the other end to the top portion ofsupport pole 276.

Cable 286 has one end secured to bluff 280 at point 288 and the otherend at point 290 on the bluff, which points lie below elevated supportmember 284. Cable 286 defines a portion of the perimeter of generallypolygonally shaped roof 292, which is formed of light weight, open meshmaterial.

Intermediate portion 294 of catenary cable 282 is secured to corner 296of roof 292. Second catenary cable 298 is secured at one end to corner296 of the roof and at its other end to the top portion of support pole278, which is immediately adjacent pole 276.

A similar arrangement of catenary cables is provided to extend betweenelevated support member 300 on bluff 280 and support poles 278 and 276,respectively, to provide support for corner 302 of roof 292. All thecatenary cables extending around aviary roof 292 incline inwardly towardeach other and downwardly toward the ground, to form with bluff 280 aroofsupporting framework.

Adjustment cables 304 are secured at one end to roof-defining cable 286and at the other to the respective cables of the roof-supportingframework just described. By means of these adjustment cables, the sidesof the generally polygonal structure formed by roof-' defining cable 286are maintained as nearly straight as possible.

METHOD OF ERECTING A VIARY STRUCTURE ings in cost. It has been foundthat the cost of the cable aviary structure of this invention isone-tenth or less of the cost for a conventional aviary enclosing thesame volume of space, and requires only a fraction of the time to erect.I

' A second important advantage in the present method of erection of anaviary structure is that supporting the roof-defining cable upon thecatenary cable roofsupporting framework as described above maintains thevarious segments of the roof-defining cable in very nearly straightlines. This greatly simplifies the pulling of wire mesh or screenmaterial over the roof-defining cable to form the roof and walls of theaviary structure.

Erection of the aviary structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 exemplifies the methodof this invention. Modifications in the method will be made,of course,depending upon the specific catenary cable roof-supporting frameworkthat is to be constructed.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, support poles 30, 44, 48 and 31 areerected on ground 22 at each corner of a generally rectangular area thatis somewhat larger than thearea to be utilized for the aviary.

In the erection ofa typical aviary structure, similar to thatshown inFIG. 1, byutilization of the method of this invention, the roof of thestructure was approximately 140 feet long and the bottom of thestructure was approximately 110 feet long, which dimensions produced asuitable outward inclination from the bottom of the end walls to the topof those walls approximately feet above the ground. The bottom of each60 feet support pole was positioned generally below the projectedlocation of one of the roof corners, and the pole was inclined outwardlyat an angle of approximately to the surface of the ground measured inboth the longitudinal and lateral directions.

It will be noted that roof 66 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 may beconsidered to have in practical effect a six-sided shape, with theleft-hand and right-hand sides in the showing of FIG. 4 having a shallowV-shape comprised of two more or less straight segments. Thus it is seenthat in erecting a cable aviary structure by the method of thisinvention, it may not be necessary to employ as many support poles asthere are sides to the generally polygonally shaped roof of thestructure. It will always be necessary, of course, to use an elevatedsupport member, such as a support pole, at each of the outside cornersof the polygonally shaped roof which it is proposed to erect.

If external bracing of each support pole is to be employed, bracingmembers 32 and wires 34 are ordinarily installed in place before thepole is erected. Preferably, each pole is inclined diagonally outwardlyfrom the area for the proposed aviary, with guy wires 36 secured toanchor members 38 embedded in the ground.

In the next step of the method of this invention,

catenary cables 40, 42, 46 and 50 are secured at their respective endsto the tops of the indicated support poles. This forms a closedroof-supporting framework disposed within the space bounded by thesurface of ground 22 and the support poles.

A closed loop of cable is next selected having a perimeter equal to theperimeter of the roof of the aviary to be erected. This closed loop isthen raised to an elevated position below the catenary cable frameworkjust described, and within the space bounded by that framework and thesurface of the ground directly beneath the framework.

' The cable of which the roof-defining closed loop is formed may be of arelatively small diameter compared to the catenary cables of which theroof-supporting framework is constructed. The roof-defining cable maybe, for example, approximately one-quarter to threeeighths inch indiameter, while the catenary cables may be approximately one-half tothree-quarters inch in diameter.

Spaced portions of roof-defining cable 52 are next secured throughsupport cables 60 to the four support poles. The spaced portions ofcable 52 are selected at points that will produce a substantiallyrectangular shape in cable 52 when it is raised in place. Support cables60 may be of relatively large diameter, similar to catenary cables 40,42, 46 and 50.

With roof-defining cable 52 located in a generally rectangular position,the sides of the rectangle are made straighter by installing at spacedportions of each side of cable 52 adjustment cables 62 secured at oneend to the roof-defining cable, and at the other end to one of thecantenary cables of the roof-supporting framework. The adjustment cablesmay be of relatively small diameter such as cable 52, or somewhatsmaller if desired.

When roof-defining cable 52 has been thus positioned, a panel of lightweight, open mesh material is pulled from a roll of such material upover roofdefining cable 52 on one side of the rectangular roof areaoutlined by the cable. The panel is pulled across to the opposite sideof the roof area, and is then pulled still farther in order to drape itdown over roof-defining cable 52 on the opposite side of the areadescribed.

The panel of mesh material employed may be, for example, four feet tosix feet wide. When pulled over the roof-defining cable in the mannerindicated, it forms a portion of the walls and roof of the aviarystructure being erected. The panel installation steps defined are thenrepeated, to bring additional panels of mesh material into place. Theaviary structure is compled by securing the edge portions of the panelsof mesh material that have been thus installed to edge portions ofadjacent panels, and to the surface of the ground, to form an enclosedaviary.

The above detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only. No unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An aviary structure erected upon the ground which comprises: (1) atleast four support poles; (2) at least one catenary cable for each ofsaid support poles; (3) means for securing one end of each of saidcables to the corresponding one of said support poles; (4) means forsecuring the other end of said cable to the next adjacent arrangement ofone of said support poles with a catenary cable secured thereto, saidcatenary cables all inclining inwardly and downwardly into the spacebounded by the surface of the ground and said support poles toform aclosed roof-supporting framework disposed within said space;'(5) a cabledefining the perimeter of a roof, said perimeter having the gen eralshape of a polygon, said roof-defining cable being located within thespace bounded by said catenary cable framework and the surface of theground directly beneath said framework; (6) means for securing spacedportions of said roof-defining cable to said catenary cable framework;(7) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roof being supported bysaid roof-defining cable; and (8.) a side wall extending downward to theground from each side of said polygonal roof, said side walls likewisebeing formed of open mesh material.

2. The aviary structure of claim 1 in which each of said catenary cablesextends from one of said support poles to the next adjacent supportpole, and each end of said cable is secured to its respective supportpole.

3. The aviary structure of claim 2 in which a support cable extends fromeach corner of the generally polygonal structure formed by saidroof-defining cable to one of said support poles, and one end of saidsupport cable is secured to said corner and the other to said supportpole.

4. The aviary structure of claim 2 in which at least one adjustmentcable extends from each side of the generally polygonal structure formedby said roofdefining cable to one of the catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework, and one of each of said adjustment cables issecured to said side and'the other to said framework cable.

5. The aviary structure of claim 2 in which each of said side wallsinclines'outwardly from the bottom to the' top of said structure.

6. The aviary structure of claim 1 in which said one 7 catenary cableassociated with any given one of said poles extends between said givenpole and a second support pole next adjacent thereto, which structurealso includes (1) means for securing the respective ends of said cableto said support poles; (2) means for securing an intermediate portion ofsaid cableto one corner of the generally polygonal structure formed bysaid roof-defining cable; (3) a second catenary cable extending fromsaid corner at said intermediate point of said first catenary cable to athird support pole next adjacent said second support pole; and (4) meansfor securing oneend of said second catenary cable to said corner and theother end thereof to said third support pole.

7. The aviary structure of claim 6 in which at least one adjustmentcable extends from each side of the generally polygonal structure formedby said roofdefining cable to one of the catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework, and one end of said adjustment cable issecured to said side and the other to said framework cable.

8; The aviary structure of claim 6 in which each of said walls inclinesoutwardly from the bottom to the top of said structure.

9. The aviary structure of claim 1 in which said one catenary cableassociated with any given one of said support poles extends from saidgiven pole generally toward a second support pole next adjacent theretoin a given angular direction, and into the space bounded by the surfaceof the ground and all said support poles, which aviary structure alsoincludes (1) means for securing one end of said one catenary cable tosaid given support pole; (2) a second catenary cable extending from saidsecond support pole generally toward a third support pole next adjacentthereto in said given angular direction, and into the space bounded bythe surface of the ground and all said support poles; (3) means forsecuring one end of said second catenary cable to said second supportpole; (4) means for securing the other end of said one catenary cable toan intermediate portion of said second catenary cable; (5) means forsecuring one corner of the generally polygonal structure formed by saidroof-defining cable to an intermediate portion of said first catenarycable; and (6) means for securing another of said comers to anintermediate portion of said second catenary cable.

10. The aviary structure of claim 9 in which at least one adjustmentcable extends from each side of the generally polygonal structure formedby said roofdefining cable to one of the catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework, and one end of said adjustment cable issecured to said side and the other end thereof is secured to saidframework'cable.

11. The aviary structure of claim 9 in which each of said side wallsinclines outwardly from the botom to the top of said structure.

l2.-The aviary structure of claim 9 which includes: (1) a third catenarycable extending from said given support pole generally toward a fourthsupport pole next adjacent thereto in an angular direction opposite saidgiven angular direction, and into said space bounded by the surface ofthe ground and all said support poles; (2) means for securing one end ofsaid third catenary cable to said given support pole; (3) a fourthcatenary cable extending from said fourth support pole generally towardthe support pole next adjacent thereto in said opposite angulardirection, and into said space bounded by the surface of the ground andall said support poles; (4) means for securing one end of said fourthcatenary cable to said fourth support pole; (5) means for securing theother end of said third catenary cable to an intermediate portion ofsaid fourth catenary cable; (6) means for securing a corner of thegenerally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable to anintermediate portion of said third catenary cable; and (7) means forsecuring another of said corners to an intermediate portion of saidfourth catenary cable.

13. The aviary structure of claim 12 in which at least one adjustmentcable extends from each side of the generally polygonal structure formedby said roofdefining cable to one of the catenary cables'of saidroof-supporting framework, and one end of said adjustment cable issecured to said side and the other end thereof is secured to saidframework cable.

14. The aviary structure of claim 12 in which a short support cableextends from each support pole to the nearest corner of the generallypolygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable, and one end ofsaid support cable is secured to said corner and the other end thereofis secured to said support pole.

15. The aviary structure of claim 12 in which each of said side wallsinclines outwardly from the bottom to the top of said structure.

16. An aviary structure erected upon the ground which comprises: (1) atleast four support poles; (2) at least one catenary cable for each ofsaid support poles; (3) means for securing one end of each of saidcables to the corresponding one of said support poles; (4) means forsecuring the other end of said cable either to another of said supportpoles or to another of said catenary cables, said catenary cables allinclining inwardly and downwardly into the space bounded by the surfaceof the ground and said support poles to form a closed roof-supportingframework disposed within said space; (5) a cable defining the perimeterof a roof, said perimeter having the general shape of a polygon, saidroof-defining cable being located within the space bounded by saidcatenary cable framework and the surface of the ground directly beneathsaid framework; (6) means for securing spaced portions of saidroofdefining cable to said catenary cable framework; (7) at least oneadjustment cable extending from each side of the generally polygonalstructure formed by said roofdefining cable to one of the catenarycables of said roof-supporting framework; (8) means for securing one endof said adjustment cable to said side; (9) means for securing the otherend of said adjustment cable to said framework cable; (10) a roof formedof open mesh material, said roof being supported by said roof-definingcable; and l l) a side wall extending downward to the ground from eachside of said polygonal roof, each of said side walls inclining outwardlyfrom the bottom to the top of said structure, said side walls likewisebeing formed of open mesh material.

17. An aviary structure erected upon the ground which comprises: (l) atleast three support members elevated above the ground; (2) at least onecatenary cable for each of said elevated support members; (3) means forsecuring one end of each of said cables to the corresponding one of saidelevated support members; (4) means for securing the other end of saidcable to the next adjacent arrangement of one of said support memberswith a catenary cable secured thereto, said catenary cables allinclining inwardly and downwardly into the space bounded by saidelevated support members and directly beneath the area defined by saidelevated support members, to form a closed roofsupporting frameworkdisposed within said space; (5) a cable defining the perimeter of aroof, said roofdefining cable being located within the space bounded bysaid catenary cable framework and the surface of the ground directlybeneath said framework; (6) means for securing spaced portions of saidroof-defining cable to said catenary cable framework; (7) a roof formedof open mesh material, said roof being supported by said roof-definingcable; and (8 side walls extending downward to the ground from saidroof, said side walls likewise being formed of open mesh material.

18. The aviary structure of claim 17 in which a plurality of adjustmentcables secures said roof-defining cable to the cables of saidroof-supporting framework.

19. The aviary structure of claim 17 in which said side walls inclineoutwardly from the bottom to the top of said structure.

20. The aviary structure of claim 19 in which said side walls areinclined at an angle from about 50 to about to the horizontal.

21. The aviary structure of claim 19 in which said side walls areinclined at an angle of about 60 to the horizontal.

22. The aviary structure of claim 17 in which the perimeter of the roofhas the general shape of a polygon.

23. The aviary structure of claim 22 in which the perimeter of the roofhas a shape approximately that of an hourglass.

24. The aviary structure of claim 17 in which said elevated supportmembers are support poles.

25. The aviary structure of claim 24. in which said support poles areexternally braced along their longitudinal axes and have their topportions braced by guy lines connected to the ground.

26. The aviary structure of claim 24 in which said support poles areinclined away from each other at least at their top portions.

27. An aviary structure erected upon the ground and having a bluff asone side of the structure, which comprises: (l) a support pole; (2) twosupport members secured to said bluff at elevated locations; (3) acatenary cable extending from one of said elevated support members tosaid support pole, and from there to the other of said elevated supportmembers, the two segments of said catenary cable between said elevatedsupport members and said support pole inclining inwardly toward eachother and downwardly toward the ground, to form with the top portion ofsaid bluff a closed roofsupporting framework; (4) means securing eachend of said catenary cable to the respective one of said elevatedsupport members; (5) means securing an intermediate portion of saidcatenary cable to said support pole; (6) a cable defining a portion ofthe perimeter of a roof, said roof-defining cable being located withinthe space bounded by said roof-supporting framework and the grounddirectly beneath said framework; (7) means for securing each end of saidroof-defining cable to said bluff at respective points located betweenand below said elevated support members; (8) a support cable secured atone end to said support pole and at its other end to an intermediateportion of said roof-defining cable; (9) means for securing spacedportions of said roof-defining cable to said catenary cable framework;(10) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roof being supported onits respective sides by said roofmeans to secure to said bluff theportions of said roof and side walls which are adjacent the bluff.

28. An aviary structure erected upon the ground and having a bluff asone side of the structure, which comprises: (l) at least two supportpoles; (2) two support members secured to said bluff at elevatedlocations; (3) a catenary cable extending from each of said elevatedsupport members to the one of said support poles in closest proximitythereto; (4) means securing one end of each of said catenary cables toits respective elevated support member and the other end to itsrespective support pole; (5) a catenary cable extending from each ofsaid support poles to the next adjacent support pole, all saidaforementioned catenary cables inclining inwardly toward each other anddownwardly toward the ground to form, with the top portion of saidbluff, a closed roof-supporting framework; (6) means securing the endsof each of said last named catenary cables to their respective supportpoles; (7) a cable defining a portion of the perimeter of a generallypolygonally shaped roof, said roof-defining cable being located withinthe space bounded by said roof-supporting framework and the grounddirectly beneath said framework; (8) means for securing each end of saidroofdefining cable to said bluff at respective points located betweenand below said elevated support members; (9) a support cable secured atone end to each support pole and at its other end to a corner of thegenerally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable; (10)means for securing spaced portions of said roofdefining cable to saidcatenary cable framework; (ll) a roof formed of open mesh material, saidroof being supported on its respective sides by said roof-deining cableand said bluff; (12) a side wall formed of open mesh material extendingdownward to the ground from said roof along each side of said roof thatis supported by said roof-defining cable; and (12) means to secure tosaid bluff the portions of the roof and of said side walls which areadjacent the bluff.

29. An aviary structure erected upon the ground and having a bluff asone side of the structure which comprises: (l) at least twosupportpoles; (2) two support members secured to said bluff at elevatedlocations; (3) a first catenary cable extending between each of saidelevated support members secured to said bluff and the one of saidsupport poles in closest proximity thereto; (4) means for securing oneend of said first catenary cable to its respective elevated supportmember; (5) means for securing the other end of said first catenarycable to its respective support pole; (6) a cable defining a portion ofthe perimeter of a generally polygonally shaped roof, each end of saidcable being secured to said bluff at respective points located betweenand below said elevated support members, an intermediate portion of eachof said first catenary cables being secured to one corner of thegenerally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable, saidroofdefining cable being located within the space bounded by saidroof-supporting framework and the ground directly beneath saidframework; (7) a second catenary cable secured at one end to said cornerof said generally polygonal structure and at its other end to a secondsupport pole next adjacent said closest support pole, all saidaforementioned catenary cables inclining inwardly toward each other anddownwardly toward the ground, to form with said bluff a roof-supportingframework; (8) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roof beingsupported on its respective sides by said roofdefining cable and saidbluff; (9) a side wall extending downward to the ground from said roofalong each side of said roof that is supported by said roof-definingcable; and (10) means to secure to said bluff the portions of the roofand of said side walls which are adjacent the bluff.

30. A method of erecting an aviary structure upon the ground whichcomprises: (l) positioning a support pole on the ground at each of theoutside corners of a generally polygonally shaped area; (2) securing oneend of at least one catenary cable to each of said support poles; (3)securing the other end of each of said catenary cables to the nextadjacent arrangement of oneof said support poles with a catenary cablesecured thereto, to form a closed roof-supporting framework disposedwithin the space bounded by the surface of the ground and said supportpoles; (4) raising to an elevated position below said cable framework,and within the space bounded by the surface of the ground and saidframework, a closed loop of cable having a perimeter equal to theperimeter of the roof to be erected; (5) securing spaced portions ofsaid roof-defining cable to said roof-supporting framework to disposesaid roofdefining cable in the general form of a polygon; (6) pullingsuccessive panels of mesh material over said roof-defining cable on oneside of the generally polygonal area outlined by said latter cable andacross to the opposite side of said area; (7) pulling said panels overthe roof-defining cable on said opposite side to drape the panels downto the ground, thereby forming a portion of the walls and roof of theaviary structure being erected; and (8) securing the edge portions ofsaid panels of mesh material to each other and to the surface of the.ground to form an enclosed aviary.

31. The method of claim 30 which includes the step of securing the endof a short support cable to a portion of said roof-defining cable andthe other end of said short support cable to the one of said supportpoles in closest proximity to said portion of the roof-defining cable,each of said support cables thereby supporting one corner'of thegenerally polygonally shaped roof of the aviary structure being erected.

32. The method of claim 30 which includes the step of securing one endof at least one adjustment cable to a portion of said roof-definingcable intermediate the corners of the generally polygonally shapedroofdefining cable, and securing the other end of said adjustment cableto one of said catenary cables of said roof-supporting framework.

1. An aviary structure erected upon the ground which comprises: (1) atleast four support poles; (2) at least one catenary cable for each ofsaid support poles; (3) means for securing one end of each of saidcables to the corresponding one of said support poles; (4) means forsecuring the other end of said cable to the next adjacent arrangement ofone of said support poles with a catenary cable secured thereto, saidcatenary cables all inclining inwardly and downwardly into the spacebounded by the surface of the ground and said support poles to form aclosed roof-supporting framework disposed within said space; (5) a cabledefining the perimeter of a roof, said perimeter having the generalshape of a polygon, said roof-defining cable being located within thespace bounded by said catenary cable framework and the surface of theground directly beneath said framework; (6) means for securing spacedportions of said roof-defining cable to said catenary cable framework;(7) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roof being supported bysaid roof-defining cable; and (8) a side wall extending downward to theground from each side of said polygonal roof, said side walls likewisebEing formed of open mesh material.
 2. The aviary structure of claim 1in which each of said catenary cables extends from one of said supportpoles to the next adjacent support pole, and each end of said cable issecured to its respective support pole.
 3. The aviary structure of claim2 in which a support cable extends from each corner of the generallypolygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable to one of saidsupport poles, and one end of said support cable is secured to saidcorner and the other to said support pole.
 4. The aviary structure ofclaim 2 in which at least one adjustment cable extends from each side ofthe generally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable toone of the catenary cables of said roof-supporting framework, and one ofeach of said adjustment cables is secured to said side and the other tosaid framework cable.
 5. The aviary structure of claim 2 in which eachof said side walls inclines outwardly from the bottom to the top of saidstructure.
 6. The aviary structure of claim 1 in which said one catenarycable associated with any given one of said poles extends between saidgiven pole and a second support pole next adjacent thereto, whichstructure also includes (1) means for securing the respective ends ofsaid cable to said support poles; (2) means for securing an intermediateportion of said cable to one corner of the generally polygonal structureformed by said roof-defining cable; (3) a second catenary cableextending from said corner at said intermediate point of said firstcatenary cable to a third support pole next adjacent said second supportpole; and (4) means for securing one end of said second catenary cableto said corner and the other end thereof to said third support pole. 7.The aviary structure of claim 6 in which at least one adjustment cableextends from each side of the generally polygonal structure formed bysaid roof-defining cable to one of the catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework, and one end of said adjustment cable issecured to said side and the other to said framework cable.
 8. Theaviary structure of claim 6 in which each of said side walls inclinesoutwardly from the bottom to the top of said structure.
 9. The aviarystructure of claim 1 in which said one catenary cable associated withany given one of said support poles extends from said given polegenerally toward a second support pole next adjacent thereto in a givenangular direction, and into the space bounded by the surface of theground and all said support poles, which aviary structure also includes(1) means for securing one end of said one catenary cable to said givensupport pole; (2) a second catenary cable extending from said secondsupport pole generally toward a third support pole next adjacent theretoin said given angular direction, and into the space bounded by thesurface of the ground and all said support poles; (3) means for securingone end of said second catenary cable to said second support pole; (4)means for securing the other end of said one catenary cable to anintermediate portion of said second catenary cable; (5) means forsecuring one corner of the generally polygonal structure formed by saidroof-defining cable to an intermediate portion of said first catenarycable; and (6) means for securing another of said corners to anintermediate portion of said second catenary cable.
 10. The aviarystructure of claim 9 in which at least one adjustment cable extends fromeach side of the generally polygonal structure formed by saidroof-defining cable to one of the catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework, and one end of said adjustment cable issecured to said side and the other end thereof is secured to saidframework cable.
 11. The aviary structure of claim 9 in which each ofsaid side walls inclines outwardly from the bottom to the top of saidstructure.
 12. The aviary structure of claim 9 which includes: (1) athird catenary cable extending from said given support pole generallytoward a fourth support pole next adjacent thereto in an angulardirection opposite said given angular direction, and into said spacebounded by the surface of the ground and all said support poles; (2)means for securing one end of said third catenary cable to said givensupport pole; (3) a fourth catenary cable extending from said fourthsupport pole generally toward the support pole next adjacent thereto insaid opposite angular direction, and into said space bounded by thesurface of the ground and all said support poles; (4) means for securingone end of said fourth catenary cable to said fourth support pole; (5)means for securing the other end of said third catenary cable to anintermediate portion of said fourth catenary cable; (6) means forsecuring a corner of the generally polygonal structure formed by saidroof-defining cable to an intermediate portion of said third catenarycable; and (7) means for securing another of said corners to anintermediate portion of said fourth catenary cable.
 13. The aviarystructure of claim 12 in which at least one adjustment cable extendsfrom each side of the generally polygonal structure formed by saidroof-defining cable to one of the catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework, and one end of said adjustment cable issecured to said side and the other end thereof is secured to saidframework cable.
 14. The aviary structure of claim 12 in which a shortsupport cable extends from each support pole to the nearest corner ofthe generally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable,and one end of said support cable is secured to said corner and theother end thereof is secured to said support pole.
 15. The aviarystructure of claim 12 in which each of said side walls inclinesoutwardly from the bottom to the top of said structure.
 16. An aviarystructure erected upon the ground which comprises: (1) at least foursupport poles; (2) at least one catenary cable for each of said supportpoles; (3) means for securing one end of each of said cables to thecorresponding one of said support poles; (4) means for securing theother end of said cable either to another of said support poles or toanother of said catenary cables, said catenary cables all inclininginwardly and downwardly into the space bounded by the surface of theground and said support poles to form a closed roof-supporting frameworkdisposed within said space; (5) a cable defining the perimeter of aroof, said perimeter having the general shape of a polygon, saidroof-defining cable being located within the space bounded by saidcatenary cable framework and the surface of the ground directly beneathsaid framework; (6) means for securing spaced portions of saidroof-defining cable to said catenary cable framework; (7) at least oneadjustment cable extending from each side of the generally polygonalstructure formed by said roof-defining cable to one of the catenarycables of said roof-supporting framework; (8) means for securing one endof said adjustment cable to said side; (9) means for securing the otherend of said adjustment cable to said framework cable; (10) a roof formedof open mesh material, said roof being supported by said roof-definingcable; and (11) a side wall extending downward to the ground from eachside of said polygonal roof, each of said side walls inclining outwardlyfrom the bottom to the top of said structure, said side walls likewisebeing formed of open mesh material.
 17. An aviary structure erected uponthe ground which comprises: (1) at least three support members elevatedabove the ground; (2) at least one catenary cable for each of saidelevated support members; (3) means for securing one end of each of saidcables to the corresponding one of said elevated support members; (4)means for securing the other end of saiD cable to the next adjacentarrangement of one of said support members with a catenary cable securedthereto, said catenary cables all inclining inwardly and downwardly intothe space bounded by said elevated support members and directly beneaththe area defined by said elevated support members, to form a closedroof-supporting framework disposed within said space; (5) a cabledefining the perimeter of a roof, said roof-defining cable being locatedwithin the space bounded by said catenary cable framework and thesurface of the ground directly beneath said framework; (6) means forsecuring spaced portions of said roof-defining cable to said catenarycable framework; (7) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roofbeing supported by said roof-defining cable; and (8) side wallsextending downward to the ground from said roof, said side wallslikewise being formed of open mesh material.
 18. The aviary structure ofclaim 17 in which a plurality of adjustment cables secures saidroof-defining cable to the cables of said roof-supporting framework. 19.The aviary structure of claim 17 in which said side walls inclineoutwardly from the bottom to the top of said structure.
 20. The aviarystructure of claim 19 in which said side walls are inclined at an anglefrom about 50* to about 70* to the horizontal.
 21. The aviary structureof claim 19 in which said side walls are inclined at an angle of about60* to the horizontal.
 22. The aviary structure of claim 17 in which theperimeter of the roof has the general shape of a polygon.
 23. The aviarystructure of claim 22 in which the perimeter of the roof has a shapeapproximately that of an hourglass.
 24. The aviary structure of claim 17in which said elevated support members are support poles.
 25. The aviarystructure of claim 24 in which said support poles are externally bracedalong their longitudinal axes and have their top portions braced by guylines connected to the ground.
 26. The aviary structure of claim 24 inwhich said support poles are inclined away from each other at least attheir top portions.
 27. An aviary structure erected upon the ground andhaving a bluff as one side of the structure, which comprises: (1) asupport pole; (2) two support members secured to said bluff at elevatedlocations; (3) a catenary cable extending from one of said elevatedsupport members to said support pole, and from there to the other ofsaid elevated support members, the two segments of said catenary cablebetween said elevated support members and said support pole inclininginwardly toward each other and downwardly toward the ground, to formwith the top portion of said bluff a closed roof-supporting framework;(4) means securing each end of said catenary cable to the respective oneof said elevated support members; (5) means securing an intermediateportion of said catenary cable to said support pole; (6) a cabledefining a portion of the perimeter of a roof, said roof-defining cablebeing located within the space bounded by said roof-supporting frameworkand the ground directly beneath said framework; (7) means for securingeach end of said roof-defining cable to said bluff at respective pointslocated between and below said elevated support members; (8) a supportcable secured at one end to said support pole and at its other end to anintermediate portion of said roof-defining cable; (9) means for securingspaced portions of said roof-defining cable to said catenary cableframework; (10) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roof beingsupported on its respective sides by said roof-defining cable and saidbluff; (11) a side wall formed of open mesh material extending downwardto the ground from said roof along each side of said roof that issupported by said roof-defining cable; and (12) means to secure to saidbluff the portions of said roof and side walls which are adjacent thebluFf.
 28. An aviary structure erected upon the ground and having abluff as one side of the structure, which comprises: (1) at least twosupport poles; (2) two support members secured to said bluff at elevatedlocations; (3) a catenary cable extending from each of said elevatedsupport members to the one of said support poles in closest proximitythereto; (4) means securing one end of each of said catenary cables toits respective elevated support member and the other end to itsrespective support pole; (5) a catenary cable extending from each ofsaid support poles to the next adjacent support pole, all saidaforementioned catenary cables inclining inwardly toward each other anddownwardly toward the ground to form, with the top portion of saidbluff, a closed roof-supporting framework; (6) means securing the endsof each of said last named catenary cables to their respective supportpoles; (7) a cable defining a portion of the perimeter of a generallypolygonally shaped roof, said roof-defining cable being located withinthe space bounded by said roof-supporting framework and the grounddirectly beneath said framework; (8) means for securing each end of saidroof-defining cable to said bluff at respective points located betweenand below said elevated support members; (9) a support cable secured atone end to each support pole and at its other end to a corner of thegenerally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable; (10)means for securing spaced portions of said roof-defining cable to saidcatenary cable framework; (11) a roof formed of open mesh material, saidroof being supported on its respective sides by said roof-defining cableand said bluff; (12) a side wall formed of open mesh material extendingdownward to the ground from said roof along each side of said roof thatis supported by said roof-defining cable; and (12) means to secure tosaid bluff the portions of the roof and of said side walls which areadjacent the bluff.
 29. An aviary structure erected upon the ground andhaving a bluff as one side of the structure which comprises: (1) atleast two support poles; (2) two support members secured to said bluffat elevated locations; (3) a first catenary cable extending between eachof said elevated support members secured to said bluff and the one ofsaid support poles in closest proximity thereto; (4) means for securingone end of said first catenary cable to its respective elevated supportmember; (5) means for securing the other end of said first catenarycable to its respective support pole; (6) a cable defining a portion ofthe perimeter of a generally polygonally shaped roof, each end of saidcable being secured to said bluff at respective points located betweenand below said elevated support members, an intermediate portion of eachof said first catenary cables being secured to one corner of thegenerally polygonal structure formed by said roof-defining cable, saidroof-defining cable being located within the space bounded by saidroof-supporting framework and the ground directly beneath saidframework; (7) a second catenary cable secured at one end to said cornerof said generally polygonal structure and at its other end to a secondsupport pole next adjacent said closest support pole, all saidaforementioned catenary cables inclining inwardly toward each other anddownwardly toward the ground, to form with said bluff a roof-supportingframework; (8) a roof formed of open mesh material, said roof beingsupported on its respective sides by said roof-defining cable and saidbluff; (9) a side wall extending downward to the ground from said roofalong each side of said roof that is supported by said roof-definingcable; and (10) means to secure to said bluff the portions of the roofand of said side walls which are adjacent the bluff.
 30. A method oferecting an aviary structure upon the ground which comprises: (1)positioning a support pole on the ground at each of the outside cornersof a generally polygonally shaped area; (2) securing one end of at leastone catenary cable to each of said support poles; (3) securing the otherend of each of said catenary cables to the next adjacent arrangement ofone of said support poles with a catenary cable secured thereto, to forma closed roof-supporting framework disposed within the space bounded bythe surface of the ground and said support poles; (4) raising to anelevated position below said cable framework, and within the spacebounded by the surface of the ground and said framework, a closed loopof cable having a perimeter equal to the perimeter of the roof to beerected; (5) securing spaced portions of said roof-defining cable tosaid roof-supporting framework to dispose said roof-defining cable inthe general form of a polygon; (6) pulling successive panels of meshmaterial over said roof-defining cable on one side of the generallypolygonal area outlined by said latter cable and across to the oppositeside of said area; (7) pulling said panels over the roof-defining cableon said opposite side to drape the panels down to the ground, therebyforming a portion of the walls and roof of the aviary structure beingerected; and (8) securing the edge portions of said panels of meshmaterial to each other and to the surface of the ground to form anenclosed aviary.
 31. The method of claim 30 which includes the step ofsecuring the end of a short support cable to a portion of saidroof-defining cable and the other end of said short support cable to theone of said support poles in closest proximity to said portion of theroof-defining cable, each of said support cables thereby supporting onecorner of the generally polygonally shaped roof of the aviary structurebeing erected.
 32. The method of claim 30 which includes the step ofsecuring one end of at least one adjustment cable to a portion of saidroof-defining cable intermediate the corners of the generallypolygonally shaped roof-defining cable, and securing the other end ofsaid adjustment cable to one of said catenary cables of saidroof-supporting framework.